Voting-machine.



J. F. PRICE.

vorma MACHINE.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l- 5w an o jFPr/ce,

N\ ml APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 21, I914.

J. F. PRICE.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 21. 1914.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W 11: cow/o J. F. PRiCE.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 21. 1914.

1,18Q1 84. Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3- JOHN F. PRICE, OF NASHVILLE, ARKANSAS.

VOTING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

Application filed September 21, 1914. Serial No. 862,795.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JoHx F. PRICE, a citizen of the United States, residing at )Tashville, in the county of Howard and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Voting- Machines; I and I do hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in voting machines and the primary object of the invention-is the provision of a voting machine which will-imprint a permanent record synchronously with the punching of the keys, whereby all controversy relative to the improper counting of votes may be eliminated.

Another object ofthis invention is the provision of a voting machine which embodies a plurality of type bars which are controlled by the energizing of' electrical magnets for imprinting characters upon suitable paper.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a mechanism whereby said electrical magnet will be energized upon the punching of any key for registering a vote.

A still further object. of the invention is the provision of a novel and simple form of mechanism for locking the key in an operated position.

With the foregoing and other objects in view this invention consists in such novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as. will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of the improved voting machine showing the electrical connections between the various keys and the electrical magnets operated synchronously therewith. Fig. 2 is a central sectional view through the improved voting machine. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the electrical magnets and the type bar actuating levers. Fig.4 is a fragmentary plan view-of one of the recording rolls and of the contact for closing a circuit for energizing an electrical magnet. Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of Fig. 4 showing a fragment of one of the voting keys. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a part of the key lockmg mechanism. Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view through a part of the key locking mechanism. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view n elevation of one electrical magnet show mg the type bar and the lever for actuating the same, and Fig. 9 is a detail view of the voting keys.

Referring more particularly to the drawlngs, 1 designates the outer casing of the voting machine, which has an inclined base partition 2 secured therein and a vertical partition 3, which vertical partition extends transversely across-the casing adjacent the larger end thereof, for forming a compartment for retaining the electrical magnets. The compartment 4 which is formed by the partition 3 has a transversely extending base 5 extending thereacross,- the purpose of which will be hereinafter more fully de scribed. The casing 1 has a door 6 hingedly connected thereto as is shown at 7 to permit of access to the interior ofthe casing for the repairing of the various mechanisms mounted therein when necessary.

The top 9 of the casingl is provided with a plurality of openings 10 spaced in rows longitudinally and laterally thereof, in which openings are slidably seated voting keys 11. The voting keys 11 have heads 12. The heads 12 have plates 13 mounted thereupon which have their marginal edges bent inwardly as is clearly shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings, for receiving a ticket or printed slip which bears the name of the candidate. The shanks 14 of the voting keys extend downwardly through the openings 10, and

have notches 15 formed in their edges, which notches are provided for receiving the free ends of pivoted locking pawls 16; The pivoted locking pawls 16 are pivoted upon pins 17 which are carried by the top 9 of the casing 1 and extend downwardly therein, and they have spiral springs 18 connected thereto is clearly shown in'Fig. 6 of the drawings. The spiral springs 18 are secured to the under surface of the top 9 of the casing 1, and-they tend to draw the free end of the locking pawl 16 toward the shank at all times. lVhen the keys 11 are forced downwardly or punched for registering a vote for various candidates, the free ends of the locking pawls16 will, by the contracting forwardly of their pivotal point as actionof the spiral springs 18 spring into the notches 15 and hold the keys in an inward position until the key releasing rod 19 is actuated. The key releasing rod 19 is journaled in suitable bearings at one end of the compartment in which the keys are mounted. and it has a handle 20 secured thereto for rocking the shaft or rod. Bars 21 extend longitudinally within the casing 1 and are slidably carried by brackets 22, which are secured to the under surface of the top end 9. The bars 21 are provided with notches 23 formed therein and having square shoulders 21. which square shoulders are provided for engagement with thefree ends of the locking pawls 1G for moving these pawls upon the pivotal pins 17 for moving them out of the notches 15 when the releasing rod 19 is rocked. The bars 21 have slots 25 formed therein adjacent their rear ends which are positioned above the lock releasing rod 19. The lock releasing rod 19 has collars 20 mounted thereupon, which have spindles QT and 2S projecting therefrom diametrically opposite to each other; The spindles 27 extend upwardly and are seated in the slots 25 formed in the bars 21 so that when the rod 19 is rocked by the actuation of the handle :20,- the bars 21 will be moved longitudinally. for moving the locking pawls 16 upon their pivotal points 17 and out of the notches 15 which are formed in the voting key shanks 11. The arms 28 extend downwardly from the collar 26 and they have spiral springs 29 secured thereto. The spiral springs 29 are also connected to. lugs which are carried by the casing 1 so that immediately after pressure is released from the handle 20 the spring will contract, rocking the rod 19 and causing it to assume its normal position preparatory to the sliding of the released bars 21.

Each of the keys 11 has a counter 31 positioned therebeneath, which counters are of the ordinary rotary type having a plurality of wheels for counting or registering each depression or punching of the respective key with which-it coacts. The counters or registers 31 have ratchet wheels 32 secured thereto for rotating the respective counting wheels. Arms 33, which are pivotally mounted on rods 34, are provided for engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel 32 for rotating the registering wheels of the counters upon each depression or punching of the voting keys. The arms 33 have arcuate sections 35, and the flat sections 36, which latter sections engage the ratchet wheel '32.

The arcuate sections 35 of the arms 33 have enlarged heads 37 formed thereupon. Theenlarged heads 37 of the arms 33 have insulating plates 38 secured to their under surface, and conductive contact plates 39.

secured to the under surface of the insulating plates 38. The conductive contact plates 39 are provided for engagement with upstanding contacts 10 and -11 when the voting key is depressed for actuating or registering a vote for a candidate. The depression of the voting key will force the head 37 downwardly and cause the same to engage the upper ends of the upstanding contacts 10 and 11 which will close an electrical circuit through these contacts, and through the electrical magnet indicated by the numeral 12 which corresponds with the voting key punched.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings a. diagrammatic view of the arrangement of'the voting keys and the electrical magnet 12 is shown. The upstanding contacts 10 are each and every one connected to a battery 50 or other suitable electrical supply source, .while the contacts 11 are connected through the medium of electrical conductors 13 with one pole of electrical magnet 12, which corresponds with the voting key beneath which the upstanding contacts are mounted. For instance in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the contact 10 which is positioned beneath the key A has communication with the battery, and the contact 11 which is positioned beneath the key A has communication with one pole of electrical magnet 13 which corresponds with the key A. The other pole of electrical. magnet has direct communication with the opposite pole of the battery 50 through an electrical conductor 11. Each and every one of the keys is connected in the manner heretofore described with the electrical mag-- net which corresponds therewith, as is clearly shown in the diagrammatic view of the voting machine, so that when the key is depressed for recording a vote for the candidate which it represents, an electrical magnet corresponding with the key will be energized for imprinting a permanent record of the vote in the manner hereinafter more fully described.

The electrical magnets have contact levers or armatures 45 'positioned above their uppermost end. The contact levers 15 are pivotally mounted on rods 16, which extend transversely through the compartment 1. The rods 46 are supported by suitable supporting arms 17, which depend from the top 4:8 of the compartment 1. The contact levers 15 have type bar carrying rods 18 connected to their outer free ends. which bars extend downwardly through the sup porting plate 49. The supporting plate 19 supports the electrical magnets 12 and it has positioned therebeneath a piece or strip of paper 51,-above which is mounted an inking ribbon Each of the. keys 11 is numbered, as is shown at 53 in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and the bars 48 have types 54: carried by their lower ends which bear the indicating character or number corresponding with the indicating character or number of thekey which is operatively connected to the electrical magnet 42 adjacent which the bar -.l8 is mounted.

Vhen oneof the keys 11 is pressed downwardly, for instance when the key A is pushed downwardly for voting for the candidate which the key indicates, the circuit will be closed between the upstanding contacts 10 and 11 which are positioned therebeneath, which will energize the magnet 12 corresponding thereto and cause the armature lever 15 to move downwardly and engage the upper magnet 55 of the electrical magnet 12, which will force or jam the rod 18 downwardlycausing the same to imprint through the inking ribbon 52, its indicating character 51 upon the paper ribbon 51. which is positioned therebeneath for permanently recording the vote for said candidate. The levers 15 have spiral springs 56' secured thereto, which springs return the levers to a horizontal position, and move the characters 5. out of engagement with the ribbon 52, immediately upon the releasing of the variouskeys 11 by the pawls 16, after the entire vote has been cast and thus providing a permanent record of the casting of the vote.

The arms 33 have spiral springs 56 secured thereto, for returning them to their normal position after having been operated by the depression of the keys 11. The shanks 14 of the keys 11 have contracting spiral springs 57 secured thereto, which springs are also secured to the under surface of the top 9 of the casing. The springs 57 are provided for automatically forcing the keys -11 upwardly after they have been released by the actuation of the releasing bars 21 and the releasing rod 19.

The casing 1 has the upper section thereof hingedly connected to the upper edge of the magnet supporting casing as is shown at 60. The upper section of the casing which is hingedly connected to the main body portion thereof carries the keys 11, and it is hingedly connected so that after the complete vote has been cast the upper section may be removed for permitting views of the various counters 31 which are positionedtherebeneath. A latch or catch 61 is secured to the forward vend of the hinged section of the casing 1 and it is provided for attachment with the forward edge of the casing 1 for holding the hinged 'section downwardlyor in a locked position upon the casing 1 during the voting.

In the operation of the improved voting machine heretofore described, when an election is to be held, cards designating the various candidates are inserted in the plates 1?) which are carried by the heads 12 and the keys 11 and a person voting pushes or depresses keys which carry the names of the candidates for which he wishes to vote. The

depression of the keys actuate the counters 31 as has been heletofore described and also close the electrical circuit through the respective electrical magnet 42 for printing a permanent record of the vote cast. Afterthe voter has depressed'keys corresponding with each and every candidate for which he is entitled to vote and desires to vote, the handle 20 is actuated which rocks the releasing rod 19 and movesthereleasing bars 21 longitudinally in the manner heretofore described. Thelongitudinal movement of the releasing bars 21 will engage the pawls 16 and move them out of the notches 15 which are formed in the. shanks ll of the keys 11. The springs 57 will then return the keys 11 to their normal position. The springs 56 will return the arms to their normal po sition. Upon the returning of the levers 33 to their normal position the'contact-39 will be moved from engagement with the upper ends of the contacts 4:0 and 41 and thecircuit will be broken between these contacts and the electrical magnet 42 corresponding therewith,

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation of the improved voting machine will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which thisinvention appertains and, while in the foregoing description, the principle of the operation of this invention has been described together with various features of construction, it is to be understood that certain minor features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be altered to suit practical conditions provided such alterations are comprehended within the scope of what is claimed.

\Vhat is claimed is:

1. In a voting machine, the combination of a plurality of depressible keys, a plurality of electrical magnets connected corre spondingly to said depressible keys, armature contact leverspivoted above said electrical magnets. type carrying bars carried by said pivoted armature levers, an ink ribbon positioned beneath the ends of said type carrying bars. a strip of paper mounted beneath said ink ribbon, and means whereby when one of said keys is depressed, the electrical magnet corresponding thereto will be energized for operating said pivoted lever and said type carrying bars. 7

2. In a voting machine, the combination, of a plurality of depressible keys, a plurality of electrical magnets connected correspondingly to said depressible keys, armature contact levers pivoted above said electrical magnets, type carrying bars carried by said pivoted armature levers, an ink ribbon positioned beneath the ends of said type carrying bars, a strip of paper mounted beneath said ink ribbon, means whereby when one of said keys is depressed the electrical magnet corresponding therewith will be energized for operating said pivoted lever and said type carrying bars, and means for holding each of said keys in a. depressed position after having been depressed for a predetermined length of time.

In a voting machine, the combination, of a plurality of depressible keys, a plurality of electrical magnets connected correspondingly to said depressible keys, armature contact levers pivoted above said electrical magnets, type carrying bars connected to and carried by said pivoted armature levers, an ink ribbon positioned beneath the ends of said type carrying bars, a strip of paper mounted beneath said ink ribbon,

A. H. HUGHES, V. K. HALLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by. addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

